Apparatus for mounting a rodless cylinder

Abstract

A rodless cylinder and an external yoke which slides thereover are mounted in a relatively rigid generally tubular support that has a guide rail mounted thereon with a bearing slide mounted for sliding movement over the guide rail and the bearing slide has a work performing tool mounted thereon. The bearing slide is coupled to the external yoke for movement therewith and substantially all torques generated by forces on the work performing tool are absorbed by the bearing slide, the guide rail and the relatively rigid generally tubular support.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for mounting a rodless cylinder comprising: a relatively rigid generally tubular support having opposite end portions and a longitudinal axis;   a rodless cylinder having opposite end portions;   an external yoke mounted for reciprocating sliding motion over said rodless cylinder;   support means at each of said opposite end portions for supporting said rodless cylinder;   an external guide rail mounted on said relatively rigid generally tubular support;   slidable bearing means mounted on said external guide rail for sliding movement thereover;   coupling means for coupling said slidable bearing means and said external yoke so that movement of said external yoke moves said slidable bearing means; and   a work performing tool mounted on said slidable bearing means for movement therewith so that forces applied to said work performing tool are absorbed by said slidable bearing means, said guide rail and said relatively rigid generally tubular support.   
     
     
       2. The invention as in claim 1 and further comprising: said relatively rigid generally tubular support having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein; and   at least a portion of said coupling means extending through said longitudinally extending slot.   
     
     
       3. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said coupling means comprise: a bracket mounted on said external yoke and located so that at least a portion thereof extends through said longitudinal extending slot;   a plate member mounted on said slidable bearing means; and   securing means for securing said bracket and said plate member together so that said plate member moves with said bracket.   
     
     
       4. The invention as in claim 3 wherein said securing means comprise: at least one weld.   
     
     
       5. The invention as in claim 2 and further comprising: a first extension member on one of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   an end cover having a circular hole extending therethrough;   said first extension member passing through said circular hole and having at least a portion thereof projecting outwardly from said end cover;   first securing means for securing said end cover on one of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   a support member having a transverse cross-sectional configuration slightly smaller than the transverse cross-sectional configuration of said relatively rigid generally tubular support so that said support member may be moved into said relatively rigid generally tubular support;   said support member having a circular hole extending therethrough;   a second extension member on the other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   said second extension member passing through said circular hole and having at least a portion thereof projecting outwardly from said support member;   second securing means for securing said support member to said relatively rigid generally tubular support with at least portions of said end cover in contact with one of said opposite end portions of said relatively rigid generally tubular support; and   mounting means for mounting said other end portion of said rodless cylinder on said support member to permit movement of said other end portion of said rodless cylinder generally in radial directions relative to said support member.   
     
     
       6. The invention as in claim 5 wherein said mounting means for mounting said other end portion of said rodless cylinder on said support member comprise: an annular spacer member mounted on said second extension member;   said annular spacer member having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said circular hole in said support member; and   third securing means for securing said annular spacer member on said other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder.   
     
     
       7. The invention as in claim 6 and further comprising: resilient means mounted on said annular spacer member for applying a resilient force between said support member and said other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder and between said support member and said third securing means to hold said annular spacer member at a relatively fixed position in said circular hole of said support member until moved by the application of an external force thereto.   
     
     
       8. The invention as in claim 7 wherein said coupling means comprise: a bracket mounted on said external yoke and located so that at least a portion thereof extends through said longitudinally extending slot;   a plate member mounted on said slidable bearing means; and   fourth securing means for securing said bracket and said plate member together.   
     
     
       9. The invention as in claim 8 wherein said fourth securing means comprise: at least one weld.   
     
     
       10. The invention as in claim 2 wherein: said relatively rigid generally tubular support has a rectangular transverse cross-sectional configuration and is formed from metal.   
     
     
       11. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said relatively rigid generally tubular support comprises: an elongated partial top wall;   a full sidewall integral with said partial top wall;   a full bottom wall integral with said full sidewall;   a partial sidewall; and   a cover plate secured to said partial sidewall and having a flange portion extending toward but spaced from said partial top wall to form a longitudinally extending slot therebetween.   
     
     
       12. The invention as in claim 11 and further comprising: a first extension member on one of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   an end support having an opening extending therethrough;   said first extension member passing through said opening and having at least a portion thereof projecting outwardly from said end support;   first securing means for securing said end support on one of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   second securing means for securing said end support on said relatively rigid generally tubular support;   a support member having a transverse cross-sectional configuration slightly smaller than the transverse cross-sectional configuration of said relatively rigid generally tubular support so that said support member may be moved into said relatively rigid hollow support tube;   said support member having a circular hole extending therethrough;   a second extension member on the other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder;   said second extension member passing through said circular hole and having at least a portion thereof projecting outwardly from said support member;   third securing means for securing said support member to said relatively rigid generally tubular support with at least portions of said end support secured to at least portions of said relatively rigid generally tubular support; and   mounting means for mounting said other end portion of said rodless cylinder on said support member to permit movement of said other end portion of said rodless cylinder generally in radial directions relative to said support member.   
     
     
       13. The invention as in claim 12 wherein said mounting means for mounting said other end portion of said rodless cylinder on said support member comprises: an annular spacer member mounted on said second extension member;   said annular spacer member having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said circular hole in said support member; and   fourth securing means for securing said annular spacer member on said other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder.   
     
     
       14. The invention as in claim 13 and further comprising: resilient means mounted on said annular spacer member for applying a resilient force between said support member and said other of said opposite end portions of said rodless cylinder and between said support member and said third securing means to hold said annular spacer member at a relatively fixed position in said circular hole of said support member until moved by the application of an external force thereto.   
     
     
       15. The invention as in claim 14 wherein said coupling means comprise: a bracket mounted on said external external yoke and located so that at least a portion thereof extends through said longitudinally extending slot;   a plate member mounted on said slidable bearing means; and   fifth securing means for securing said bracket and said plate member together.   
     
     
       16. The invention as in claim 15 wherein said fifth securing means comprise: at least one weld.